All posts for the month April, 2014

As a professional music producer, I know what it takes to create a great hip-hop song. My area of expertise is producing top-of-the-line songs for America’s most popular hip-hop artists and in that matter I am going to explain a few things in order to make an excellent hip-hop song. Many will say its all about where you record the song at and others will say it’s all about the artist, but in order to make a great hip-hop song, there has to be good lyrics, a catchy beat, and creativity.

The lyrics of a hip-hop song definitely make a hip-hop song excellent in many ways. Now when I say “in many ways” I mean the lyrics have to be catchy or in other words they have to grab the audience’s attention. For example, when someone listens to a hip-hop song they probably hear a lot of metaphors and similes and that’s because it makes the song stand out more. Having a lyrical song can help “distinguish hip-hop from pop music more broadly” now days Ernest Baker says.(Para 3) The lyrics have to be clear and recorded properly and the vocals also have to be meaningful so whoever is listening can relate to it in some type of way. Most importantly make sure you have good punch lines and the knowledge of what you’re writing the song about.

Lyrical can be misused in hip-hop. At it’s worst, calling a rapper “lyrical” makes their art sound more like a math problem. But the term is still useful, because it distinguishes hip-hop from pop music more broadly. (Ernest Baker n.d., Para. 3)

What also helps make a song excellent in the hip-hop industry is using the right type of beat. The beat basically makes or breaks the song because it is the background of the vocals. As Johnny Juice has noted, “When creating your own unique sound for a beat, try latching on to an influence that inspires you and digging in deep.” Make sure the beat has some sort of way with fitting in with the lyrics. If someone isn’t using a beat that fits there lyrics, then that person wont have a good song. The beat has to give the same feeling as the lyrics so all around the song can have a good feel to it. Having the right type of beat also can give a song a better feel to it so more people will listen to it. If the listener doesn’t like the beat they will most likely tune out.

When developing your own unique voice as a beat programmer, Johnny Juice (Music Producer) recommends latching on to an influence that inspires you – whether it’s within hip hop or not – and digging in deep. In the words of Johnny Juice, “Study what makes that musician, composer, producer, or vocalist sound the way they sound,” he says. “And then apply that to what you’re doing. (Michael Gallant n.d., Para. 3)

Being creative is also very important when making a great hip-hop song. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment a little with the track because you never know how it is going to turn out. Creativity is the key. The song has to catch the people’s ears in a positive way when they here it. Creativity helps make the song stand out more so it doesn’t sound like just any other song made. It gives the song it’s own feel to it but most importantly being creative with the track someone’s making will also show people that they actually know what there doing and that they can do it in their own way. Most people will respect that.

All in all, what makes a song excellent in the hip hop industry can be the vocals, using a beat that compliments the song and sound created, and to top it all off using good recording equipment for the track. Together, all of these establish an excellent hip-hop song.